“Are you, Beck?”
“Am I what?”
“Just being neighborly?” She felt her heart drop as she asked it, but she knew it had to be said.
“What do you mean?”
She copped out. “Nothing.”
It was quiet again for a few seconds. Gosh, he’d looked gorgeous all night. Why did he have to cause these feelings in her when no man ever had?
“What did you think of Clancy?” he asked with a grunt.
“He was nice.”
Beck let out a low growl.
“But I like you the best,” she said, smiling up at him.
He froze, looking over at her.
She twisted her hands in her lap. “In fact, I think I like you a lot. Maybe more than I should.”
The only sign that he’d heard her was a slight tightening of his hands on the steering wheel. But he continued to drive without answering her until they pulled up in front of the house and he put the transmission in park.
Then he just sat there, huge body frozen, staring straight ahead with a tense look in his eye.
She took her shot. Decided it was worth it because she only lived once and she’d never wanted a man like this. She might never again…
She slid her hand over his warm, hard thigh, near his knee, and looked up at him. “Beck? Do you feel this too?”
He didn’t look at her.
“When we were getting ready, when we were showering, I had the most inappropriate thoughts about you. And I’m sorry if you don’t want this. Please tell me—”
He opened his door and got out of the truck, and she instantly felt panic engulf her.
She got out and followed him as he strode away from the truck, over toward the tree line. “Wait! Beck! I’m sorry! I was inappropriate! You’re not attracted to me. I’m sorry. You were just trying to be a good man, and I misread this as a date and—”
With a low growl, Beck turned around, and there was fire in his eyes as he faced her and began walking toward her, taking one pounding step after another.
His hands were clenched in fists as if he were trying desperately to hold himself back from something.
He got close to her, backing her up to the edge of her porch, then up the stairs as he continued to approach. So big. So intimidating.
So hot.
He kept going until she had her back to her front door, and he was looming over her like a tidal wave of hotness just waiting to crash down.
But he simply put his arm on the door above her and tilted her face to look up at him. “‘Course I’m attracted to you. I’ve never wanted a woman like this. I never wanted a woman at all. I don’t want roots. I don’t settle down. But you, Sierra, you cut through my defenses. You make me want things I have no business wanting. You’re out here on your own, working with all your strength, lovin’ this land like I do, you little badass. And I couldn’t want you more.”
She smiled up at him, heat tingling down to her toes at his words.
“But that’s exactly the problem, Sierra. I’m not the man for you. If I stay here, I’ll wind up hurting you. Not ‘cause I want to. Not ever. But—”
“You could never hurt me, Beck. You’re strong, amazingly strong. But you use that strength for the right reasons. Your friends trust you—”
“You can ask Harrison about the fact that I never stay anywhere for long. I’m not the stayin’ type. Best for everyone if I leave sooner or later.”
“I don’t care about that,” she said bravely, hoping her heart could agree later on. She didn’t know if she could ever play it cool about Beck moving on.
But she knew she’d regret it forever if she didn’t take advantage of every moment she could have with him.
“Give me tonight,” she said. “You don’t have to stay forever. I’m not asking for that.” She put her hands on his chest. “What if I’m just asking for this?” Her eyes met his hungrily. “What if I’m begging you for it?”
His eyes fell to her lips, and she knew the second she had him by the little growl of frustration he let out as he came closer. “Then I guess I better give it to you.”
10
Beck couldn’t hold back any longer.
His lips immediately crashed over Sierra’s in an engulfing, dominant kiss.
Her mouth was soft, even softer than he’d imagined the dozens of times he’d caught himself watching her. But to actually feel her against him was about a million times more wonderful, and dangerous, than he could have possibly guessed.
From the moment she’d walked into his life, Sierra had been trouble. Not the kind of trouble that was looking for a fight, but the kind of trouble that made Beck start to think things he had no business thinking.
He kept his arm pressed onto the door behind her, trapping her as he deepened the connection. She groaned against him, lips parting, and he thrust in with his tongue, hopeful in some dark part of him that even the way he kissed might be too much for this kind, beautiful woman. Might be enough to chase her away for her own good.
But it wasn’t. The electricity that had felt like a spark ignited into erotic heat as his tongue met hers, clashing and twisting as he explored the inside of her mouth with reckless hunger.
It only made her gasp, a muffled, sensual sound that tickled Beck’s ears as he continued to devour her.
By the time he pulled back, she was breathless, chest heaving as she looked up at him with those sparkling blue eyes.
There was no fear in her eyes. Only want.
Acting on pure instinct, he picked up the small woman in his arms, and she squeaked in surprise as he squeezed her ass and brought her to his level so he could kiss her again, harder and more intensely this time.
She hummed, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist while he opened the door with one hand and thrust deep with his tongue, enough to make her body twitch in arousal against him.
God, this woman would be the end of him.
But not before he showed her exactly how desperate he had been for her these past few days first.
She didn’t seem to notice or care as he shut the door behind them, locking it as he carried her easily with one hand. Then both his hands were squeezing her round, sumptuous ass, pressing their bodies together, allowing him to feel her soft curves against him and making him harder than he’d ever been in his entire life.
That fact didn’t seem to escape Sierra, though, and she ground her hips into him, making his cock twitch.
Oh… he’d fuck her senseless. He’d make his woman so exhausted from his loving that she wouldn’t see another man for as long as she lived.
Then… then what?
Mate, his dragon growled as he leaned into Sierra’s neck to suck hard on the exposed skin there. She moaned, arching back and giving him access as he kissed along her throat, then to the other side of her neck, ignoring his dragon completely.
Damn bastard had done enough wrong things in his life already. Tonight, with Sierra, he was all man, protective and fierce and ready to end the world if it even looked at her wrong.
He kicked his shoes off, not wanting to dirty her floor as he headed for Sierra’s room. All day, he’d been thinking about her. Worrying about her. Wanting her.
And even if he knew it was wrong, he would have her.